Component jointing apparatus and joint structure formed of a plurality of parts

Abstract

A jointing apparatus comprises a first laser head which emits a laser beam for adhesive heating and a second laser head which emits a laser beam for welding. In jointing components of a work with a thermosetting adhesive agent, the defocused laser beam is applied to an adhered part for a short time. Thereupon, the adhesive agent is primarily cured so that the components are tacked together. In spot-welding the components, the laser beam for welding that is converged by means of the second laser head is applied to a spot-welded joint.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A component jointing apparatus comprising: 
 a positioning jig which holds a plurality of components in layers in a predetermined position; and    a laser irradiator which applies a laser beam to an adhered part or spot-welded joint of each component, the laser irradiator including beam control means which defocuses and applies the laser beam to the adhered part to heat a thermosetting adhesive agent supplied to the adhered part when the components are fixed to one another with the thermosetting adhesive agent and which converges the laser beam within a range narrower than the range for the adhered part and applies the laser beam to the spot-welded joint when the components are spot-welded to one another with the laser beam.    
     
     
         2 . A jointing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the beam control means of the laser irradiator includes a first laser head which defocuses and applies the laser beam to the adhered part and a second laser head which converges and applies the laser beam to the spot-welded joint.  
     
     
         3 . A jointing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the beam control means of the laser irradiator includes a focal position adjusting mechanism which defocuses the laser beam when the laser beam is applied to the adhered part and converges the laser beam on the spot-welded joint when the laser beam is applied to the spot-welded joint.  
     
     
         4 . A joint structure formed of a plurality of components including a platelike component, comprising: said platelike component and 
 any other component than the platelike component that are fixed to each other with a thermosetting adhesive agent.    
     
     
         5 . A joint structure according to  claim 4 , wherein the component is a load beam, baseplate, hinge member, or flexure which constitutes a disc drive suspension.  
     
     
         6 . A joint structure formed of a plurality of components including a platelike component, comprising: 
 an adhered part at which the platelike component and any other component than the platelike component are fixed to each other with a thermosetting adhesive agent; and    a spot-welded joint at which the platelike component and the other component than the platelike component are fixed to each other by laser spot welding.    
     
     
         7 . A joint structure according to  claim 6 , wherein the component is a load beam, baseplate, hinge member, or flexure which constitutes a disc drive suspension.